Tool



April M. E. THIERWECH'IL-ER 1 2,347,300

' v TOOL I Filed Sept. 12, 1942 2.2% iii Patented Apr. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r001. Morton E. Thierwecht er, Toledo; one; Application September 12, 1942, Serial- N10. 458,075

(01. iii-4'75 Claims;

This invention relates to tools of the pivoted jaw type and is more particularly directed to pliers, tongs, tweezers or similar instruments in which at least three surfaces cooperate to grip a work piece. The primary object of the invention is to provide means to grip an irregularly shaped object or a plurality of objects of unequal size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool in which a plurality of independently controlled jaws cooperate with a single anvil jaw to facilitate securely holding an irregularly shaped object or a plurality of objects independently.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to grip an irregularly shaped object at a minimum of three points, the relative pressure between the points of contact being independently controlled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of pliers incorporating the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pliers with one jaw disassembled; Fig. 3 is a front view with the jaws opened, and Fig. 4 is a front view with the jaws closed.

Referring to the drawing the invention is disclosed as embodied in a pair of pliers, although the same principles may be applied to any instrument in which an object is to be gripped between two cooperating surfaces. An anvil jaw is provided which cooperates with two jaw members I2 and I4 which operate as companions to each other. These three jaws are pivoted relatively to each other on the usual fulcrum IS. The anvil l0 extends beyond the fulcrum to form a handle W and each of the jaws I2 and I4 is likewise extended to form handles l2 and M As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the anvil is sufiiciently wide to contact both of the jaws l2 and 14 so that when the jaws are closed each of them moves against the upper surface of the anvil jaw in close proximity to the other.

The handles 12* and M are, of course, independently controllable for movement about the fulcrum I6, and are separated sufficiently so that they may be operated conveniently, each with respect to the other and with respect to the co-, operating anvil handle Ill When the invention is incorporated in a pair of pliers it may be desirable to limit the relative movement of the jaws l2 and I l and for this purpose a small pin 18 is provided which projects from the jaw 12 and into a cooperating slot 2-0 formed in the inner side surface of the jaw H3. The pin and slot thus serve to limit the relative movements of the. jaws l2 and Hi so that generally the jaws and their handles Fl and M move together within the limits fixed by the extent of the slot 2!].

In operation, if the pliers are used for gripping a tapered pin, for example, the pin will be gripped between the jaws at at least three points, one on the jaw l2, one on the anvil IF and one on the jaw I l. The pin is thus held firmly against movement, while in the ordinary pliers a tapered pin would be free to turn about an axis determined by the two opposing points at which it is gripped. Similarly, if the pliers are used to grasp two unequally shaped objects, such as two wires of different diameters, one wire may be held between jaw l2 and the anvil I0 and the other wire between jaw l4 and the anvil. The wires can then be twisted together or soldered or operated on in any other manner. In the common pliers, it is not possible to grip two wires of different diameter because the closing of the jaws is determined by the larger wire.

It will be appreciated that the invention has been disclosed in connection with a particular form of the elementary parts and that the size and shape of these parts may vary depending on the specific purpose for which the particular tool or instrument is designed. Such modifications and changes may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A tool of the plier type having at least three pivotally connected relatively movable jaw members arranged for at least two companion jaws to oppose at least one anvil jaw in gripping an article, each jaw member having an individual control handle projecting therefrom at a side of the pivotal connection opposed to the jaw members and arranged to be grasped by a single hand and independently operated thereby to move the members, one of said companion jaws having a recess formed therein and another companion jaw having a projection entering said recess, whereby to restrict the range of independent movement of said companion jaws.

2. A tool of the plier type having three work gripping jaws with one jaw opposing the other two jaws and the latter having similar gripping action on the former, said jaws having handles projecting rearwardly therefrom with the handles of the two jaws substantially parallel and crossing th handle of the single jaw at opposite sides thereof, means to restrict the range of pivotal movements of the two jaws relative to each other, and a pivotal connection between all of said handles at the crossing point permitting pivotal movement of any handle and its jaw relative to the others, whereby when a gripping force is applied to the jaws through the handles the jaws may assume positions suitable for the shape of the gripped work.

3. A tool of the plier type including a main jaw, a pair of substantially parallel independent auxiliary jaws disposed in side by side relation and movable into and out of cooperative gripping engagement with said main jaw, means for movably connecting all of said jaws together, and handle means connected to each of said jaws for controlling the movements thereof relative toengagement with said main jaw, cooperating means carried by said auxiliary jaws for limiting the movements thereof relative to each other, means for movably connecting all of said jaws together, and handle means carried by each of said jaws for controlling the movements thereof relative to each other, the handles of the auxiliary jaws being opposed to the handle of the main jaw.

5. A tool of the plier typ including a main jaw, a pair of substantially parallel independent auxiliary jaws disposed in side by side relation and movable into and out of cooperative gripping engagement with said main jaw, said auxiliary jaws having a. combined width substantially equal to the width of the main jaw, cooperating means carried by said auxiliary jaws for limiting the movements thereof relative to each other, means for movably connecting all of said jaws together, and handle means carried by each of said jaws for controlling th movements thereof relative to each other, the handles of the auxiliary jaws being opposed to the handle of the main jaw.

MORTON E. THIERWECH'IER. 

